Table and chair structure and means for pivotally mounting chairs

ABSTRACT

A table and chair combination wherein a table top is supported on a plurality of spaced chairs with each having a separable connection providing a pivotal relation and a latch preventing separation in all positions except the separable position.

W o 1 1W 1 1 a h m 1 1 1 1e its att 1 91 1111 3,778,12 Snyder et a1. 1| 11, 1973 [5 TABLE AND CHAiR STRUCTURE AND 770,505 9/1904 McMurtrie 237 124 MEANS O HVOTALLY MOUNTING 2,524,995 10/1950 Sassano 287/103 A CHAIRS 2,719,061 9/1955 Beatty 287/103 A 3,179,367 4/1965 Rapata 287/103 A [75] Inventors; Bobbie L, Snyder, Lake Winnebago, 3,212,815 10/1965 Wardlaw et al 297/170 Mo.; Ambrose Spencer, Merriam, 3,236,389 2/1966 Murdock 108/101 X Kans; Harlan Butts, Lees Summit, 3,266,840 8/1966 D MO 2,891,255 6/1959 S1mmons 5/9 R [73] Assignee: Fixtures Mfg. Corp., Kansas City,

Mo. Primary Examiner-James T. McCall y 9 Attorney-Claude A. F1Shbl1fll et al.

[21] Appl. No.2 255,094

52 us. c1 297/170, 287/20 R, 297/135, 1571 ABSTRACT 297/142 [51] Int. Cl. A47c 3/00 A table and chair combination wherein a table top is [58] Field of Search 297/170, 171, 172, supported on a plurality of spaced chairs with each 297/135, 157; 287/20 R, 20.5, 23, 124, 103 A having a separable connection providing a pivotal relation and a latch preventing separation in all positions [56] References Cited except the separable position.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 306,874 10/1884 Thatcher 287/20 R 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PmmEnnacu ms 7 3.778.102

sum 10? 2' TABLE AND CHAIR STRUCTURE AND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING CHAIRS The present invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to a table and chair structure having improved means for permitting relative turning movement between the chairs and the table top and selected separation of the chairs and the table top.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a table and chair combination wherein a table top is solely supported on a plurality of chairs and having improved means for pivotal connection of chairs to a table top; to provide such a table and chair combination having cooperating portions on each of a plurality of socket portions mounted on a lower surface of a table top and a respective portion of each chair received therein and engageable through a selected angle of swinging movement of each chair to retain the chair portion within the respective socket member and to permit separation or disengagement beyond the selected angle of turning movement; to provide such a structure wherein the socket portion have tapered bores enlarging downwardly from the table top and permitting relative movement of the chair portion and socket portion to accommodate uneveness of floors; to provide such a table and chair combination wherein the pivotal connection means are each adapted to retain an end member on a chair in a receiving member mounted on the table top and permit removal thereof only when the end member is in a selected rotated position relative to the table top; to provide such a table and chair combination wherein each end member serves as a supporting means for the table top; to provide'such a connection wherein the parts are adapted for casting with a minimum of machining operation; to provide such a table and chair combination wherein the chairs are selectively detachable only when in a selected position relative to the table top to thereby enable the chairs to be used separately; and to provide such a table and chair combination that is economical to manufacture, easily assembled and less easily disassembled, that presents a structure having movable portions whereby it is easy to clean the supporting surfaces thereunder, and which is particularly well adapted for the proposed use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include an exemplary embodiment illustrating various objects and features of the table and chair structure and means for pivotally mounting chairs of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a table and chair structure constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown in assembled relation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the table and chair structure with mounting socket members and table supporting portions of chairs shown in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the table and chair structure.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through the mounting socket member and the pivotal connection between a chair and table top and taken on line 44, FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of the socket member for mounting on a lower surface of the table top.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

As required detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriate detailed structure.

The present invention is an improvement in the table and chair structure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,815 granted on Oct. 19, 1965 and more particularly the present invention is an improvement in means for pivotally mounting the chairs in supporting relation for a table top.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 1 generally designates a table and chair combination which includes a table top 2 and a plurality of chairs 3 spaced around the table top 2 and each having a substantially rigid member 4 extending therefrom and having a generally vertical end portion 5 in pivotal supporting relation to said table top 2. It is desirable that the mounting be separable. The connecting supporting parts generally include an end member 6 on the chair end portion 5 and a bracket or socket member 7 mounted on the bottom surface 8 of the table top 2. Such a connection is provided for each one of the chairs and permits relative turning movement between the table top 2 and a respective chair 3.

The table top 2 may be made of any desirable material and is not restricted as to shape. In the structure illustrated, the table top 2 is polygonal and is supported by the chairs 3 and the chairs 3 are spaced around said table top and movable relative thereto.

The chairs 3 may be any suitable design and in the illustrated structure each chair has a suitable seat portion 9 and a support structure or frame, such as a plurality of spaced legs or support members 10 in supporting relationship to the seat portion 9. The illustrated chairs 3 each have a back portion 11 spaced above the seat portion 9 and have portions 12 extending from the back portion 11 and terminating in oppositely directed arm portions 13 which support arm rests 14.

The substantially rigid member 4 is suitably fixed to one of the arm portions 13 and extends therefrom and toward the table and the illustrated rigid member 4 extends to a position under the table top 2 about which the chair swings, as best seen in FIG. 2. The rigid members 4 may be any structure to mount the connector and in the illustrated structure are shown as including the vertical end portion 5 which is preferably tubular and has an open upper end positioned below the table top 2.

The end members 6 are illustrated as being mounted in a respective open upper end of the vertical end portion 5 with each having a body portion 16 received within a respective open upper end of the vertical end portion 5 of the rigid members 4. The body portion 16 is suitably secured within the open upper end with any suitable fastener. The fasteners illustrated are a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws 17 each having counter-sunk heads preferably flush with an exterior surface of the vertical end portion 5. Each end member 6 has an end flange l8 engageable with an upper end of the walls defining the open upper end of the vertical end portion 5. Each of the end members 6 has at least one and preferably a pair of laterally opposed ears or lugs 19 extending from the end flange 18.

Each of the brackets or socket members 7 are suitably secured to the lower surface 8 of the table top 2 and in the illustrated structure, each socket member 7 includes a mounting portion 20 suitably secured to the lower surface 8 of the table top 2, as by a plurality of spaced fastening devices illustrated as screws 21. Each of the brackets or socket members 7 have wall portions 22 defining a chamber therein with the chamber being adjacent the lower surface 8 of the table top 2 when the socket member 7 is mounted on the lower surface 8, the chamber being adapted to receive a respective one of the end members 6 therein, more particularly the end flange 18 and the lug or lugs 19 of the respective end member 6. The wall portions 22 extend upwardly from at least one and preferably a pair of shoulders 23 which are each engageable by a lug or lugs 19 to prevent removal of the vertical end portion and the end member 6 thereon from the bracket or socket member 7. Wall portions 24 depend from the shoulders 23 and define a generally vertically extending bore 25 communicating with the chamber within the bracket or socket member 7. The bore 25 is tapered having its smallest diameter as at 25 adjacent to the shoulders 23 and enlarging to the lower end 24' of the wall portions 24 to provide for chair movement as later described. The bore 25 is adapted to receive the vertical end portion 5 of a respective one of the rigid members 4 therein with the bore defining wall at the small or upper end of the bore having engagement with said vertical end portion 5 for rotation thereof in the socket member 7. At least one and preferably a pair of laterally opposed recesses or slots 26 in the bore 25 are adapted to receive the respective lug or lugs 19 therein for movement therethrough.

It is desirable to facilitate the turning or swinging movement of the chairs 3 relative to the table top 2, therefore, each of the chairs 3 has a plurality of spaced floor-engaging members, such as rollers 27 each mounted on a lower end of each of the legs or support members for supporting same during relative turning or swinging movement between the respective chairs 3 and the table top 2.

in assembling and using a table and chair combination as illustrated and described, the socket members 7 are secured to the lower surface 8 of the table top 2 by means of the screws 21. The end members 6 are secured in the open upper end of the respective vertical end portion 5 of the rigid members 4, as by the screws 17. The table top 2 is positioned above the end members 6 and the chairs 3 are maneuvered until the lugs 19 are aligned with the slots 26 in the respective bore 25 whereby the table top may be lowered until the end member 6 is in engagement with the lower surface 8 whereby the chairs 3 provide the sole support for the table top 2. The chairs 3 are then maneuvered to move the lugs 19 out of alignment with the respective slots or recesses 26. Then a person desiring to sit at the table top 2 may grasp a selected chair 3 and pull same whereby the selected chair swings or rolls outwardly from the table top 2, the swinging movement being about the vertical axis of the vertical end portion 5.

When the chair is swung out from the table top 2, a person may be seated in the chair and then move same toward the table top 2 whereby the chair moves on the rollers 27 in an arcuate path about the vertical end portion 5 to swing back to a normal seating position for a person adjacent the table top 2. The table top 2 is supported by the chairs 3 and remains in position regardless of whether the chairs are at the seating position along side the table top 2 or whether one or all of the chairs are swung outwardly from the table top 2. The weight of the table top 2 maintains the upper end or surface of the end member 6 in engagement with the lower surface 8 of the table top 2. During all the swinging movement of the chairs 3, the lugs 19 of the end members 6 each have a lower surface thereof spaced above an upper surface of the shoulder or shoulders 23 at the upper end of the respective bores 25. The table top 2 may be removed from the chairs 3 or a chair or chairs 3 may be removed from the combination only when the chair or chairs 3 are moved beyond a selected angle of turning or swinging to move the lugs 19 from a position above the respective shoulders 23 to a position above and aligned with a respective slot 26 in the bores 25 and then the table top 2 may be lifted to move the socket members 7 upwardly while the chairs 3, rigid members 4, and end members 6 remain in position thereby effecting relative movement between the lugs 19 and the slots 26.

The table and chair combination 1 is a substantially stable structure and there is a minimum of relative lateral movement between the table top 2 and the chairs 3 as a result of a minimum clearance between interior surfaces of the small portion of the bores 25 as at 25 and exterior surfaces of a respective vertical end portion 5 of the rigid members 4.

It is to be understood that either the bore 25 or vertical portion 5 may have the taper with the other being substantially cylindrical or other suitable combination to provide the bearing engagement at one end and clearance at the other to permit angular variation between the vertical portions and the table top. In the illustrated structure, the bores 25 diverging downwardly to the larger diameter at the lower end of the walls 24 permit the end portions 5 of the chair rigid members 4 to vary from normal relation or permit angular variation relative to the table top. This structure gives stability and accommodates uneveness of floors without binding or other interference with the swinging of the chairs relative to the table top. The chairs can swing or move over their respective areas and even if the floor is uneven the taper of the bore 25 and relative fit keeps the table top in its selected position.

It is to be understood that while we have illustrated and described one form of our invention, it is not to be limited to this specific form or arrangement of parts herein described and shown.

We claim:

1. In a table and chair combination having a table top and a plurality of chairs spaced around said table top with means pivotally mounting each chair to said table top for swinging movement about a respective vertical axis comprising:

a. a substantially rigid member extending from each of a plurality of chairs spaced around a table top, said rigid members each having a generally vertical end portion with an end surface engageable with a lower surface of the table top;

claim 1 wherein said cooperating means includes;

a. an end member mounted on the vertical end portion of each of said rigid members, said end members each having saie end surface thereon engageable with the lower surface of the table top for rotatively supporting said table top on the chairs;

b. walls on each of said socket members defining a chamber adjacent the table top and a bore extending generally vertically downwardly from the chamber and in upwardly facing surface outwardly of said bore defining a shoulder spaced from the lower surface of the table top, said bore being adapted to receive therein one of said vertical end portions and the end member thereon;

c. at least one longitudinally extending slot in each bore, each slot extending through said shoulder and the full length of said bore; and

d. at least one lug extending radially outwardly from each end member being engageable with a shoulder to retain a vertical end portion of a rigid member within said socket member and permit turning throughsaid selected angle and to permit movement through said slot for disengagement when turned beyond said selected angle to alignment of the lug with the slot.

3. A table top and chair combination with swinging and supporting connections of the chairs with the table top comprising:

a. a table top having a lower surface;

b. a plurality of chairs spaced around said table top;

c. a substantially rigid member extending from each of said chairs, each rigid member having a generally vertical end portion;

d. an end member for each of said rigid members that is fixedly mounted on their vertical end portion thereof and engageable with the lower surface of said table top to support same;

e. a socket member for the vertical end portion of each of said rigid member, each socket member being fixedly mounted on said lower surface of said table top;

f. means on each of said socket members for receiving therein the vertical end portion of one of said rigid members and said end member thereon, permitting relative turning movement between said respective rigid members and said table top about a vertical axis of said vertical end portion, said means being operative for retaining each of said rigid members withon one of said socket members through a selected angle of turning movement and permitting disengagement beyond said selected angle of turning movements; and

G. floor-engaging means on each of said chairs for supporting same during relative turning movement between said respective chairs and said table top.

4. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein:

a. each of said socket members has walls defining a chamber therein adjacent the lower surface of said table top for receiving an end member therein;

b. each of said socket members has walls defining a generally vertically extending bore communicating with the chamber therein for receiving a vertical end portion of one of said rigid members; and

c. each chamber and the respective end member received therein have mutually engageable portions for maintaining said end member within said chamber through said selected angle of turning movement permitting removal of said end member from said chamber only when said end member has a selected rotated position relative to said chamber and the bore communicating therewith, said selected rotated position being beyond said selected angle of turning movement.

5. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mutually engaging portions include:

a. said bore defining walls being arranged to define a bore having a slot extending longitudinally therein for the length of said bore;

b. each end member having a lug extending therefrom and movable through said slot in said respective bore; and

c. said chamber defining walls being arranged to define an upwardly facing'shoulder interrupted by said slot and engageable by a lug of said respective end member within said chamber to thereby retain said lug within said chamber and permit removal of said end member from said chamber only when said lug is aligned with said slot.

6. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein:

a. said vertical end portion of each of said rigid members has an open upper end;

b. each end member has a body portion received within the open upper end of a vertical end portion;

c. each end member has one pair of laterally opposed lugs extending from said body portion and having one of said mutually engageable portions thereon;

d. said bore defining walls are arranged to define a bore having one pair of laterally opposed slots therein extending longitudinally of the bore, said laterally opposed slots each receiving one of said lugs therein for movement therethrough; and

e. said chamber defining walls are arranged to define one pair of shoulders each extending between said slots and being the other of the mutually engageable portions, said pair of shoulders being engageable by one of said lugs of said respective end member within said chamber to thereby retain said lugs of said end member within said chamber and permit removal of said end member from said respective chamber only when said lugs are each aligned with the laterally opposed slots in said respective bore.

7. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

a. said bore of said socket member and vertical end portion have a relative taper providing an axial supporting bearing engagement therebetween adjacent one end of said bore and clearance adjacent the other end thereof permitting angular variation between the respective rigid member and the table 7 8 top to accommodate uneveness of floors on which said table top whereby the bore defining wall has the chairs move. axial supporting bearing engagement withsaid ver- 8. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim tical end portion for rotation thereof; and 3 wherein: c. said bore defining wall at the other end thereof a. said means on each of said socket members for rehaving a clearance from said vertical end portion ceiving the vertical end portion of one end of said permitting angular variation of said vertical end rigid members having walls defining a bore divergportion with said table top to accommodate uneveing downwardly from adjacent said table top; ness of floors on which the chairs move. b. said bore being of a size at an end thereof adjacent 

1. In a table and chair combination having a table top and a plurality of chairs spaced around said table top with means pivotally mounting each chair to said table top for swinging movement about a respective vertical axis comprising: a. a substantially rigid member extending from each of a plurality of chairs spaced around a table top, said rigid members each having a generally vertical end portion with an end surface engageable with a lower surface of the table top; b. one socket member fixedly mounted on the table top for each chair, said socket member being adapted to receive and engage one of said vertical end portion of said rigid members therein; and c. cooperating means between the table top and each chair to effect engagement of the table top and each chair and permit relative turning movement through a selected angle, and to permit disengagement of each chair from the table top when turned to a position beyond said selected angle.
 2. Means for pivotally mounting chairs as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooperating means includes: a. an end member mounted on the vertical end portion of each of said rigid members, said end members each having saie end surface thereon engageable with the lower surface of the table top for rotatively supporting said table top on the chairs; b. walls on each of said socket members defining a chamber adjacent the table top and a bore extending generally vertically downwardly from the chamber and in upwardly facing surface outwardly of said bore defining a shoulder spaced from the lower surface of the table top, said bore being adapted to receive therein one of said vertical end portions and the end member thereon; C. at least one longitudinally extending slot in each bore, each slot extending through said shoulder and the full length of said bore; and d. at least one lug extending radially outwardly from each end member being engageable with a shoulder to retain a vertical end portion of a rigid member within said socket member and permit turning through said selected angle and to permit movement through said slot for disengagement when turned beyond said selected angle to alignment of the lug with the slot.
 3. A table top and chair combination with swinging and supporting connections of the chairs with the table top comprising: a. a table top having a lower surface; b. a plurality of chairs spaced around said table top; c. a substantially rigid member extending from each of said chairs, each rigid member having a generally vertical end portion; d. an end member for each of said rigid members that is fixedly mounted on their vertical end portion thereof and engageable with the lower surface of said table top to support same; e. a socket member for the vertical end portion of each of said rigid member, each socket member being fixedly mounted on said lower surface of said table top; f. means on each of said socket members for receiving therein the vertical end portion of one of said rigid members and said end member thereon, permitting relative turning movement between said respective rigid members and said table top about a vertical axis of said vertical end portion, said means being operative for retaining each of said rigid members withon one of said socket members through a selected angle of turning movement and permitting disengagement beyond said selected angle of turning movements; and G. floor-engaging means on each of said chairs for supporting same during relative turning movement between said respective chairs and said table top.
 4. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. each of said socket members has walls defining a chamber therein adjacent the lower surface of said table top for receiving an end member therein; b. each of said socket members has walls defining a generally vertically extending bore communicating with the chamber therein for receiving a vertical end portion of one of said rigid members; and c. each chamber and the respective end member received therein have mutually engageable portions for maintaining said end member within said chamber through said selected angle of turning movement permitting removal of said end member from said chamber only when said end member has a selected rotated position relative to said chamber and the bore communicating therewith, said selected rotated position being beyond said selected angle of turning movement.
 5. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mutually engaging portions include: a. said bore defining walls being arranged to define a bore having a slot extending longitudinally therein for the length of said bore; b. each end member having a lug extending therefrom and movable through said slot in said respective bore; and c. said chamber defining walls being arranged to define an upwardly facing shoulder interrupted by said slot and engageable by a lug of said respective end member within said chamber to thereby retain said lug within said chamber and permit removal of said end member from said chamber only when said lug is aligned with said slot.
 6. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein: a. said vertical end portion of each of said rigid members has an open upper end; b. each end member has a body portion received within the open upper end of a vertical end portion; c. each end member has one pair of laterally opposed lugs extending from said body portion and having one of said mutually engageable portions thereon; d. said bore defining walls are arranged to define a bore having one pair of laterally opposed slots therein extending longitUdinally of the bore, said laterally opposed slots each receiving one of said lugs therein for movement therethrough; and e. said chamber defining walls are arranged to define one pair of shoulders each extending between said slots and being the other of the mutually engageable portions, said pair of shoulders being engageable by one of said lugs of said respective end member within said chamber to thereby retain said lugs of said end member within said chamber and permit removal of said end member from said respective chamber only when said lugs are each aligned with the laterally opposed slots in said respective bore.
 7. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein: a. said bore of said socket member and vertical end portion have a relative taper providing an axial supporting bearing engagement therebetween adjacent one end of said bore and clearance adjacent the other end thereof permitting angular variation between the respective rigid member and the table top to accommodate uneveness of floors on which the chairs move.
 8. A table and chair combination as set forth in claim 3 wherein: a. said means on each of said socket members for receiving the vertical end portion of one end of said rigid members having walls defining a bore diverging downwardly from adjacent said table top; b. said bore being of a size at an end thereof adjacent said table top whereby the bore defining wall has axial supporting bearing engagement withsaid vertical end portion for rotation thereof; and c. said bore defining wall at the other end thereof having a clearance from said vertical end portion permitting angular variation of said vertical end portion with said table top to accommodate uneveness of floors on which the chairs move. 